USA Gymnastics Sanctions NCATA for a Victory in Sport Safety

Sept. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- North Hollywood, CA  – This week USA Gymnastics announced they would sanction meets for the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) beginning with the 2010-2011 season. The National Cheer Safety Foundation (NCSF) applauds the move as the first step in providing a safe environment for the gymnasts who will participate in the new sport.

“I may be in a wheelchair but I did back flips today when I heard that USA Gymnastics took NCATA under their wing,” shares Laura Jackson, NCSF International Spokesperson, quadriplegic and tumbling injury survivor. “My injury is no longer in vain.”

The founder of the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Caroline-Chapel Hill and sport safety expert Frederick O. Mueller has long pushed for recognition of acrobatics and tumbling skill sets as a discipline of gymnastics said, “Having a governing body well established like USA Gymnastics to sanction competition is great for the safety of the athletes.”

With safety of the skill sets now in a sport format NCSF founder Kimberly Archie will step down from her position passing the reins to executive director Krista Parks-Robinson.

“I will always be the founder of the NCSF, but it’s time to look forward to my new role at USA Sport Safety focusing on educating sport coaches and research,” explained Kimberly Archie sport safety advocate and expert.

The NCSF will continue to be the conscious of the cheer industry as the only independent safety organization founded by cheer parents, managed by former cheerleaders and guided by the panel of Cheer Safety Experts.

“As a former collegiate competitive cheerleader and catastrophic injury survivor it speaks volumes that the NCATA cared enough about their athletes to turn to the Olympic model as their leader. At the NCSF we will carry on the traditions Kimberly Archie set of compassion, volunteerism and commitment to peer reviewed research to continue to service the cheer industry,” added Krista Parks-Robinson executive director of the NCSF.

Parks-Robinson will assume leadership immediately.

The National Cheer Safety Foundation is dedicated to injecting science into cheer safety to reduce injury, disability and death from cheer injuries through research and education of parents, cheerleaders, coaches, gym owners and administrators. To report your injuries go to www.cheerinjuryreport.com and to find out more information about safety go to www.nationalcheersafety.com or call 1-800-596-7860.